Car-coupling



(No Model.) Gl Wl SMILLIE.

GAR GOUPLING.

No. 561,825. Patented Jung 9, 1896.

Inf/vnl??? UNTTED STATES PATENT FFICE@ CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 561,825, dated J une 9, 1896. Application lecl July 19, 1895. Serial No. 556,487. (No model.)

My invention relates to ear-couplers of the vertical-plane type, and particularly to that class employing a vertically-operating locking-pin for engaging with the coupling hook or knuckle to hold the same in a closed or locked position, the objects of my invention being, first, to secure the positive and automatic opening of the knuckle upon the rais-` ing of the locking-pin to release the same, and, second, to prevent the withdrawal of the locking-pin from its position in the drawhead when raised from engagement with the knuckle to allow the opening oi the same. These objects l secure by the means forming my invention, as will hereinafter be set forth in detail, and pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l represents a plan view of a coupler embodying my invention with the draw-head and knuckleopener device partly broken away and the locking-pin in section; also showing the position ot the several parts when the knuckle is closed and the position ot` the several parts in dotted lines when the knuckle is open. Fig. 2 represents a vertical section through line 2 2 of Fig. l looking toward the right, showing the position of the several parts when the knuckle is closed and the position of the parts in dotted lines when the knuckle is open also showing in dotted lines the positions of the locking-pin during its action upon the knuckle-opener device.

To explain in detail, a represents the drawhead oi the coupler; b, the pivoted horizontally-moving coupling hook or knuckle; c, the vertically-moving locking-pin adapted for engaging with the knuckle or part thereof to hold the same in a closed position, and d my improved knuckle-opener device. The latter, according to my invention, consists of an elbow-lever, which in the present instance shown is pivotally supported between two ears d' d', located ou the draw-head at a point back of the locking-pin, as shown in Fig. l. One arm, d2, of this lever projects through an opening in the draw-head into a position to engage with aprojection h on the inner arm of the knuckle, as clearly shown in both iigures of the drawings, the said `arm d2, as shown in Fig. l, having a portion thereof between its ends broken away. The other and short arm, d3, of said elbow-lever extends in a position to be engaged by a pin or projection c on one side of the locking-pin c, whereby the lever may be operated to move the knuckle to an open position when engaged by the said projection on the locking-pin at the upward movement of the latter when raised to release the knuckle.

The elbow-lever d, as shown in Fig. l, is pivoted in such position that its knuckle-engaging arm d2 moves in aline tangent to the arc of the circle in which the inner arm of the knuckle moves, and the said arm d2, as more clearly shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, is formed with an angle therein at a point between its pivot-point and the knuckle-enga ging end, wherebythe latter is brought nearer the inner arm of the knuckle and the length of the projection b' thereon with which the said lever engages is kept reduced.

The projection c on the locking-pin cis located thereon in such position relatively to the short arm d3 of the elbow-lever that it engages with said lever immediately after the lower end of the locking-pin has been raised above and from engagement with the knuckle, as shown in Fig. 2, in order that the latter may be free to open, and after the locking-pin has reached such position to free the knuckle and bring the projection thereon into engagement with the arm d3 of the knuckle-opener it has a continued upward movement, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2, during which the projection c' thereon acts upon the knuckleopener in a manner to cause the latter to move the knuckle to an open position, as shown in Fig. l. By means of this construction and arrangement of parts the knuckle is both released and moved positively to an open position by the raising of the locking-pin.

The elbow-lever d, by reason of its arm d3 engaging with the proj eotion on the lockingpin, as described, also performs the additional function of serving as a stop to limit the up- IOO Ward movement of said locking-pin after be ing raised for the purpose, as above described, in order to prevent its Withdrawal or disconneetion from the draw-head.

Having thus set forth my invention, it will be obvious that various inodiiieations might be made in the arrangement and construction of the several parts Without departing from the spirit of my invention. For instance, the locking-pin, in lieu of having the projection o thereon for engaging with the arm d3 of the elbow-lever to operate the latter, might be provided With a longitudinal groove therein terminating at a point to form a stop eorresponding in position to the projection o thereon and adapted to serve in lieu of the latter, and the short arm b3 of the elbow-lever be provided With a pin or projection thereon having its end extend into the said groove in the looking-pin to engage with the said stop formed at the end of the same, and thus form a connecting medium between the locking-pin and elbow-lever to serve equally Well and in lieu of that before described and as illustrated.

Having thus set forth my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

The combination in a ear-coupler, With the pivotedl1orzontally-n1oving coupling hook or knuckle, of a vertically-movable looking-pin provided with an auxiliary and integral pin on one side thereof Which extends and nioves Within a slot formed in the draw-head, and an elboW-lever pivotally supported in bearings on the top of the draw-head, With one arm extending over said auxiliary pin, and the other arm extending downward and to the rear of an arin of the knuckle, to engage With said arm, substantially as described and for the purpose set forth.

GEORGE W'. SMILLIE. lVitnesses:

CHAs. F. DANE,

A. L. HAYES. 

